Chapter 203
I stopped dead in my tracks and looked up at Darren, only to hear him chuckle, “Just kidding.”
After hanging around the hospital room for over an hour, Darren finally took off. I walked him to the parking lot before doubling back to the inpatient ward. But no sooner had I stepped into the lobby than I unexpectedly got an earful of Hilary’s raging.
“You tell him, if he doesn’t show up now, I’m gonna drop dead in this hospital tonight!”
I followed the commotion and sure enough, there was Hilary, decked out in a brown fur coat, who looked wiped out and was bossing her butler around with wild gesticulations.
Talk about timing – just as I glanced over, she locked eyes with me.
Once our gazes met, Hilary cracked a dazzling smile and strutted towards me in her CL red bottoms, all the while laughing. “Xaviera, you’re the one who cares about me. I knew you wouldn’t leave me high and dry like that heartless guy.”
She must’ve thought I was there specifically for her.
Before I could set the record straight, she went on, “You have no idea how today’s tea party nearly brought back my old affliction – my chest’s still giving me hell. Xaviera, you’ve got to keep me company for a good chat.”
After saying this, she reached out to link arms with me in a way cozy and condescending as she had been in the old days.
But in a split second, I took a step back to dodge Hilary’s reaching arm.
Hilary, left hanging, stood there dumbfounded and stared at me, muttering, “Xaviera, what’s up?”
“Auntie, sorry, I’m here to see Jason,” I confessed, “I need to get back to his room.
Hilary frowned; she paused for a second, and asked, “Jason’s in the hospital too?”
Her tone was skeptical; I figured Hilary thought I was making excuses.
“Yeah, so I can’t stick around with you today,” I said, not keen on elaborating, and suggested, “If you’re really feeling under the weather, you could call Director Irwin over.”
“Her?” Hilary’s face instantly twisted in disdain, “Xaviera, you missed the ugly mug on those Irwin women at the tea party. Thank goodness I set it up, or if this drama reached the old lady.” Hilary stopped mid–sentence, and then she grumbled, “I’m this worked up all thanks to Ms. Irwin.”
Having not expected Hilary to have such wild imagination, I was caught between laughter and tears when she added, “Xaviera, with all your connections, could you scout out some
Chapter 203
high–fiving guru for me? Maybe take Hogan to see if they’re any good?”
As she said this, Hilary earnestly grasped my hand, her eyes brimming with a hint of desperation.
knew that look all too well – it appeared every time when she ‘needed a favor.
But I knew it was all an act.
I spoke calmly, “Mr. Zade is his own man; how could I possibly make decisions for him?”
With that, I gently pulled my hand from Hilary’s grasp, while offering a strained but polite smile.
Only then did Hilary seem to remember who I was. After a brief pause and an awkward tug at the corner of her mouth, she asked, “Xaviera, did Professor Yearwood tell you something?”
The mention of Darren put me on guard, “Why did you say that?”
Hilary shot me a look, sighing. “In the past, you always took Hogan’s matters to heart, but today.”
So she was blaming me for not prioritizing her son.
But why should I? Hogan already had Cecilia.
With that thought, I forced a smile and calmly said, “Mr. Zade is our investor, and I’m totally on board when it comes to work. But if it’s personal, sorry, that’s none of my business.”
At my words, Hilary had her eyes bulged; her mouth was flapped open and shut, and then I heard her blurt out, “Hogan, when did you get here?”
